In the present study, two new genera Paradonkia, and Neodonkiella, and five new species, viz. Paradonkia farinacea, Neodonkiella yinjiangensis, Phanerochaete albocremea, Phanerochaete fissurata, and Phanerochaete punctata collected from southern China, are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Paradonkia farinacea is characterized by the resupinate, membranaceous basidiomata with pale cream to gray cream hymenial surface and a monomitic hyphal system with simple septa and clamp connections; Neodonkiella yinjiangensis is characterized by soft coriaceous basidiomata, a monomitic hyphal system and ellipsoid basidiospores (3.5–5 × 2–2.5 µm); Phanerochaete albocremea is characterized by resupinate basidiomata with white to a pale cream hymenial surface, and ellipsoid basidiospores (3.5–5 × 2–3 µm); Phanerochaete fissurata is characterized by gray-brown and cracked hymenial surface, and ellipsoid basidiospores (4–5.5 × 2–3 µm) and Phanerochaete punctata is characterized by farinaceous basidiomata, a monomitic hyphal system, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and the large subunit (nLSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) markers of the studied samples were generated. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogram based on the ITS+nLSUrDNA gene regions, revealed that two new genera, Paradonkia and Neodonkiella, belong to the family Phanerochaetaceae, and three new species belong to the genus Phanerochaete in the family Phanerochaetaceae.

Polygala crotalarioides, a perennial herbaceous plant found in southwest China, has the potential to be used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Endophytic fungi that reside within medicinal herbs play an important ecological role in their host plants and can serve as a valuable source for identifying active components. However, little is known about the diversity, and structure of endophytic fungi in P. crotalarioides. In this study, we investigated the community structure and diversity of endophytic fungi in the leaves, stems, and roots of P. crotalarioides at both 1- and 2-year-growth stages using a modern culture-independent method using both culture-independent (high-throughput sequencing, HTS) and culture-based methods. Using HTS, our results revealed that the richness and diversity of endophytic fungi in P. crotalarioides varied depending on the organs and growth stages. Specifically, stems and leaves exhibited significantly higher diversity compared to roots. Additionally, the highest diversity of endophytic fungi was observed in the stems of the 2-year-old plants. At the genus level, Fusarium, Colletotrichum, and Phoma were the most abundant endophytic fungi in 1-year-old samples, while Cercospora, Apiotrichum, and Fusarium were prevalent in 2-year-old samples. A total of 55 endophytic fungal strains belonging to two phyla and 24 genera were isolated from 150 plant tissue segments using culture-based methods. The anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of these isolates was evaluated in vitro and five of them, Phialophora mustea PCAM010, Diaporthe nobilis PCBM027, Fusarium oxysporum LP41, F. oxysporum SR60, and Phoma herbarum SM81, showed strong activity (>50% inhibition rate). These findings will serve as a theoretical basis and practical guide for comprehending the structural composition, biological diversity and bioactivity of endophytic fungi in P. crotalarioides.

Aquatic fungi serve as core ecological engines in freshwater ecosystems, driving organic matter decomposition and energy flow to sustain environmental balance. Wetlands, with their distinct hydrological dynamics and nutrient-rich matrices, serve as critical habitats for these microorganisms. As an internationally designated Ramsar Site, Yunnan Dashanbao Black-Necked Crane National Nature Reserve in China not only sustains endangered black-necked cranes but also harbors a cryptic reservoir of aquatic fungi within its peat marshes and alpine lakes. This study employed high-throughput sequencing to characterize fungal diversity and community structure across 12 understudied wetland sites in the reserve, while analyzing key environmental parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus). A total of 5829 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) spanning 649 genera and 15 phyla were identified, with Tausonia (4.17%) and Cladosporium (1.89%) as dominant genera. Environmental correlations revealed 19 genera significantly linked to abiotic factors. FUNGuild functional profiling highlighted saprotrophs (organic decomposers) and pathogens as predominant trophic guilds. Saprotrophs exhibited strong associations with pH, total nitrogen, and phosphorus, whereas pathogens correlated primarily with pH. These findings unveil the hidden diversity and ecological roles of aquatic fungi in alpine wetlands, emphasizing their sensitivity to environmental gradients. By establishing baseline data on fungal community dynamics, this work advances the understanding of wetland microbial ecology and informs conservation strategies for Ramsar sites.

Gloeocystidiellum yaoshanense sp. nov., found in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China, is described here as a new species based on its morphology and phylogenetic analyses. Gloeocystidiellum yaoshanense is characterized by its membranaceous basidiomata with cracked, grandinioid hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system bearing simple septa on generative hyphae, and broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 4–4.6 × 3–3.5 µm. Phylogenetic analyses of the new species were carried out based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and the nuclear large subunit (nrLSU) of ribosomal DNA. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that the new species belongs to the genus Gloeocystidiellum and forms a monophyletic lineage. A full description, illustrations, and phylogenetic analysis results of the new species are provided.

In this study, Exidia punctata is described and illustrated as a novel species based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the large subunit (nLSU) of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes. The species is characterized by smooth, membranaceous, cushion-shaped basidiomata with white to cream hymenial surface, and narrowly cylindrical to allantoid basidiospores (13–15.5 × 5–6.5 µm). The phylogenetic tree inferred from ITS+nLSU sequences revealed that the new species was nested into the genus Exidia within the family Auriculariaceae, in which it grouped with the clade comprising E. glandulosa, E. pithya, E. reflexa and E. subglandulosa.

Wild Polygala crotalarioides is an ethnomedicinal plant traditionally used for neurological health. Endophytic fungi associated with medicinal plants are increasingly recognized as sources of bioactive natural products; however, their diversity and biological activities in wild P. crotalarioides remain poorly understood. We used high-throughput sequencing and culture-dependent methods to explored the diversity, community composition, and bioactivities of endophytic fungi associated with wild P. crotalarioides. Culturable isolates were identified via ITS sequencing and further screened for AChE-inhibitory and antioxidant activities. Our results revealed that a total of 818 fungal OTUs were detected, revealing pronounced tissue-specific community differentiation. Stem tissues harbored the highest fungal diversity, richness, and number of unique OTUs. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota dominated fungal communities across all tissues, while distinct biomarker taxa were enriched in different organs. Functional annotation indicated marked tissue-dependent variation in trophic composition. Among 108 culturable isolates, Penicillium sp. PRP024 and Trichoderma sp. PRP008 exhibited the strongest AChE inhibitory activities (>80%), whereas Fusarium sp. PSP053, Diaporthe sp. PSM027 and Exserohilum sp. PSP042 showed notable antioxidant activities. Wild P. crotalarioides hosts highly diverse and tissue-specific endophytic fungal communities. Several isolates exhibited promising acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities, highlighting medicinal plant-associated endophytic fungi as potential sources of antioxidative natural products.